(CNN) – What's the highlight of Mrs. Obama's time in the White House? Hanging out with Elmo, of course.

The first lady stopped by Sesame Street Tuesday, chatting with the furry red monster and making a public service announcement along the way.

"If you want your child to have healthy habits, practice healthy habits too because you're your child's best role model," Michelle Obama advocated in her appearance for Sesame Workshop's Healthy Habits for Life Initiative.

The First Lady told employees at the United Nations in New York Tuesday that it's probably the best thing she's done so far since she and her husband moved into the executive mansion. Mrs. Obama appears to be emerging as a champion of healthy exercise and eating habits, taking up her platform by planting an organic kitchen garden on the White House grounds.

Former first ladies Barbara and Laura Bush also dropped by Sesame Street set during their husbands' terms in office, advocating children's literacy by reading kids' books to Big Bird.

soundoff(200 Responses)

Linda

Did she wear her $540.00 tennis shoes that she wore when she was feeding the hungry???? What an insult to the poor people that she was feeding? Leading by example means more than just talk–you need to walk the talk.

May 7, 2009 12:24 pm at 12:24 pm |

K. Owe

Mrs. Obama continues to be an inspiration to many.

May 7, 2009 12:25 pm at 12:25 pm |

GREAT EXAMPLE

First Lady is a great example for children and mothers! As the top mom in the biggest public arena she is doing a great job in setting examples for parents all over the world. There will be those who will bash her but you know what, does it really matter, the Limbaughs, Hannity and other Repubs have nothing better to do but try to bring down the Presdent and first Lady. Michelle is a mom first and said so on the campaign and if she can take advantage of her status then please go for it !

May 7, 2009 12:27 pm at 12:27 pm |

Kimberly

She is awesome, and has done more as a First Lady than any other. She really takes this job serious. She is really into making sure kids are top priority. What a great role model, no wonder she has an 85% approval rating. Shes a great lady! mississippi mike, you HAVE to be like 13. You moan and groan on every post, and sound so ignorant to the topics, sad...

May 7, 2009 12:27 pm at 12:27 pm |

cookie-cutter liberal

For the first time in his life, Elmo is proud to be an American!

May 7, 2009 12:31 pm at 12:31 pm |

SS

I love it! She is awesome...

May 7, 2009 12:31 pm at 12:31 pm |

Dee, NJ

My First Lady is Ms. Obama. Her babies and Sesame Steet came before Dad was made President.

May 7, 2009 12:32 pm at 12:32 pm |

StuckinmoderationMari

During the eight long years of the Bush/Cheney regime, not once..... not once... did I criticize Laura Bush.

However, the "Christians" can't help but criticize Mrs. Obama!

Shame on you!

May 7, 2009 12:33 pm at 12:33 pm |

cool onlooker

I can't agree more that the parents are the role models for our children. Michelle is playing very well in this role. I guess so far we cannot ask for any more, any better from our first lady.

Keep it up, Mrs. Obama.

May 7, 2009 12:34 pm at 12:34 pm |

white female

Good Job, what an awsome first lady we have. She is the best that we have ever seen, or had as of yet. May God Bless us all, through these next 8 yrs. Keep up the Good work First Lady O.
I wish some of the Republican Party voters and members would stop bashing everything she does, and calling her names, that's not nice, and they look so out of touch, disrespectful, and outadted. Name calling is so childish, uneducated , and down right hateful.
Let's move forward people, other countries are leaving us behind in so many ways. This is a great chances for changes, and this President and his family, and Admin is doing a wonderful job.

May 7, 2009 12:34 pm at 12:34 pm |

Alfred E. Neumann

Wow – Is Elmo now finally proud to be an American!

May 7, 2009 12:35 pm at 12:35 pm |

Niki

*sigh* Why must people find fault with the first lady going to Sesame Street? She's not the President...so her focus isn't on the national debt or terrorism or health care. She is the first lady, and like many other first ladies her focus right now is on children. I may not agree with everything her husband does, but my blood pressure doesn't skyrocket when I see that she has made an appearance (that other first ladies have made) on a children's program to promote healthy eating and exercise habits.

calm down people....there are bigger things to get mad over.

May 7, 2009 12:36 pm at 12:36 pm |

marilee

Michelle is a fantastic first lady. Love the entire Obama family!

May 7, 2009 12:37 pm at 12:37 pm |

Stu-Florida

Her smile is bigger than his. How cool is that. We all need more smiles in OUR America, especially the GOP. What a bunch of GOMs (Grumpy Old Men) they all have become.
I don't care if she isn't the first... her smile says it all! Anything good for kids is good for U.S.
You go, Mrs. O
The warm blooded ones all love you! Forget the reptiles!

May 7, 2009 12:37 pm at 12:37 pm |

Kelby In Houston, TX

Michelle Obama is doing a great job as first lady. And it doesn't hurt that she is beautiful and has a smile that could melt butter....Barack is SO LUCKY...and I am SO jealous.

May 7, 2009 12:38 pm at 12:38 pm |

trying to be reasonable in WV

It"s a good thing when ANY First Lady visits Sesame Street, whether that's Barbara Bush, Laura Bush, or Michelle Obama. Martha Washington would have been a hit had there been TV and Sesame Street in her day! This event is about as NON-political as they come, and yet it is the opportunity for some to criticize. Why? What, precisely, about this clip could any rational person find offensive?

May 7, 2009 12:44 pm at 12:44 pm |

Ryan

'republicans who gave us Laura (stretched too tight) Bush, and Nancy (get my astologist) Reagan, and Barbara (did nothing but look
matronly) Bush. What a group of do nothing First Ladies."

Read the whole article, please:

"Former first ladies Barbara and Laura Bush also dropped by Sesame Street set during their husbands' terms in office, advocating children's literacy by reading kids' books to Big Bird."

May 7, 2009 12:47 pm at 12:47 pm |

Proud DHS radical

The hypocrisy of the liberals here is really amazing! For the past 8 yrs they villified Bush and his family to no end but now scream bloody murder whenever anyone dare criticizes the Obama's.

And as judging First Ladies goes, the others have class and Michelle has yet prove that she does.

May 7, 2009 12:47 pm at 12:47 pm |

CitizenJane

For a party that prides itself on family values, I haven't seen republican values being displayed on this post in any way I would want my children to mimic.

May 7, 2009 12:48 pm at 12:48 pm |

sherey

The First Lady is sending out a very important message to families...get walking and eat healthy! Good habits such as these last a lifetime and the message is on point!

May 7, 2009 12:52 pm at 12:52 pm |

Cody

Hilarious people can even say a single harsh word about this. Grow up.

May 7, 2009 12:53 pm at 12:53 pm |

Tate

Is this going to help the 80% of single families in the black community?

May 7, 2009 12:54 pm at 12:54 pm |

helphelp

Thanks for stating Barbara Bush did this first along with a lot of other wonderful acts of kindness. Wonder if Michelle said a little prayer today on "National Day of Prayer "? Oh that's right they aren't observing it-I forgot.

May 7, 2009 12:54 pm at 12:54 pm |

GOP = 21st century dodo

It's incredible how the hardcore GOPers turn something as innocuous as this into another chance to hate on Michelle Obama, Barack Obama, Democrats, liberals, and anyone who doesn't 100% subscribe to their extremely narrow ideology.

May 7, 2009 12:54 pm at 12:54 pm |

Doug, New Jersey

I would never wish for Michelle Obama to be treated the way that Laura Bush was for 8 years, but I don't have to worry, those on the right could not spew as much evil, hateful, mean-spirited attacks on her as the libs did to Laura even if they tried.

Conservatives make comments based on what Michelle has said, libs just unleash baseless hateful personal attack and wish harm on their opposition, even their wives and their little children, but then again that is to be expected of the moral-less, hate-filled, dishonest left of this country.